Barnsbury

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Barnsbury is a place in the London Borough of Islington. The name is a corruption of Bernersbury, being so called after the Berners family, who gained ownership of the lands after the Norman Conquest and were powerful medieval manorial lords, owning a large part of Islington.The area of Barnsbury was predominantly rural until the late 18th century. By the end of the 18th century however Barnsbury, like other parts of Islington, was being regarded as attractive part-rural suburbs by the comparatively wealthy wanting to move out of the cramped City of London and industrial Clerkenwell. The area is close to the City, and had strong local trade in its position as the first staging post for travellers making the journey from London to the north, and with considerable agricultural traffic and cattle driving to the nearby Smithfield cattle market in the City.

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Famous residents:

Tony Blair, Prime Minister,lived in Richmond Crescent.
Benjamin Britten, composer, lived at 99,Offord Road.
Kenneth Cranham, actor.
Chris Farlowe, singer lived in Offord Road.
Sir Ian Holm, actor, lived in Belitha Villas.
Sir Peter Pears, singer, lived in Offord Road.
Thomas H Shepherd, artist and printmaker, lived in Batchelor Street.
Walter Sickert, artist, lived at 14, Barnsbury Park.
The fictional character of VHS, featured in the comedy series The Mighty Boosh, claimed to own a factory in Barnsbury.

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